Alfredo Binda
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alfredo Binda (August 11, 1902–January 1, 1986) was an Italian cyclist of the 1920s and 1930s, later trainer of Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali.
Although born in Cittiglio near Varese, Binda grew up in Nice, in southern France. Learning to become a plasterer, Binda could often be found at the cycling track. His real cycling talent, however, was as a climbing specialist.
Binda became a professional in 1922, and although he scored several victories, his breakthrough came in 1925. First, he won the Giro d'Italia (Tour of Italy) stage race, and then the Giro di Lombardia classic. In both races, he would dominate in the years to come. He won the Giro a record five times in 1925, 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1933 (1933 was also the first year the Giro held a "King of the Mountains" competition, which Binda won too); he also won the Giro di Lombardia in 1925, 1926, 1927 and 1931. His dominance in the Giro was overwhelming: besides the five overall victories, he won 41 stages (a record only broken in 2003 by Mario Cipollini). In 1927, he won 12 out of 15 stages, and in 1929 he won 8 consecutive stages. Because of this domination, he was offered money not to compete in the Giro of 1930. Instead, he took part in that year's Tour de France, winning two stages.
In the World Championships, Binda was also very successful. He won the title three times in 1927, 1930 and 1932 (a record later equalled by Belgians Rik Van Steenbergen and Eddy Merckx and Spaniard Óscar Freire). In addition, he placed third in 1929. Other victories of Binda include the Italian Championships (four times), and Milan-Sanremo (twice).
[edit] Palmares
- 1933
- Giro d'Italia
- KoM — Giro d'Italia
- 6 stages — Giro d'Italia
- 1932
- World Pro Road Racing Championship
- 1931
- Milan-Sanremo
- Giro di Lombardia
- 2 stages — Giro d'Italia
- 1930
- World Pro Road Racing Championship
- 2 stages — Tour de France
- 1929
- Giro d'Italia
- 8 stages, Giro d'Italia
- Milan-Sanremo
- 1928
- Giro d'Italia
- 6 stages, Giro d'Italia
- Giro del Veneto
- 1927
- Giro d'Italia
- 12 stages, Giro d'Italia
- World Pro Road Racing Championship
- Giro di Lombardia
- Giro del Piemonte
- 1926
- Giro di Lombardia
- Giro del Piemonte
- 6 stages, Giro d'Italia
- 1925
- Giro d'Italia
- 1 stage, Giro d'Italia
- Giro di Lombardia
[edit] External links
| Preceded by inaugural |
World Road Racing Champion 1927 |
Succeeded by Georges Ronsse |
| Preceded by Georges Ronsse |
World Road Racing Champion 1930 |
Succeeded by Learco Guerra |
| Preceded by Learco Guerra |
World Road Racing Champion 1932 |
Succeeded by Georges Speicher |
| Preceded by Giuseppe Enrici |
Winner of the Giro d'Italia 1925 |
Succeeded by Giovanni Brunero |
| Preceded by Giovanni Brunero |
Winner of the Giro d'Italia 1927-29 |
Succeeded by Luigi Marchisio |
| Preceded by Antonio Pesenti |
Winner of the Giro d'Italia 1934 |
Succeeded by Learco Guerra |
